Improvement in game-boards



H. B. DBNNISON Game-Board.

No. 211,001. Patented Dec.*17,14878.

OOOOODOOOODOOOOOOOQQ s es. 572W@ wan/64? @non IIOSEA B. DENNISON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAME-BOARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. QRLGL dated December 17, 1h78; application filed July 3, 1573.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itlrnown that I, Hosen B. DnNNrsoN, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Game Apparatus, ot' which the following is a specilication:

This invention relates to game apparatus used in playing cribba ge and other games, for counting by means of movable pegs and pegholes adapted to receive said pegs.

The invention has for its object to provide certain improvements in the construction of game apparatus and in the arrangement of the pegholes; and to this end the invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents an edge view of a box or casing which I employ in carrying out my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 represent, respectively, views of the opposite sides of the same. Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the box, with one cover or side removed 5 and Fi. 5 represents a plan view of one end of the box, with the cover removed.

Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.

One purpose of my invention is to so arrange the holes of a cribbage-board that players can move the pegs progressively without the liability of making mistakes which existswhen the ordinary arrangement of holes is employedviz., two straight parallel rows of holes for each player. In playing the game of cribbage with holes thus arranged the player moves the pegs down one row and back along the other; but, owing to the arrangement of the rows, an inexperienced player is liable to move the pegs in the wrong direction. To obviate this difficulty I arrange the peg-holes a of a Cribbage-board in continuous rows, which are convoluted, the convolutions being preferably elongated, as shown in Fig. 2., By this arrangement the player is enabled to easily follow the line of holes without being confused or mistaking the direction in which the peg should be moved.

I prefer to employ two continuous convoluted rows or lseries of holes in a Cribbageboard, one for each player or side 'of players,

the two extending side by side. To distinguishmbctween the two rows, I place one in a spacror a successionof spaces of one color, and the other in a space or succession of spaces of a different color, as shown in Fig. 2. These colored spaces I term iieldsf7 which, ofcourse, are arranged in convolutions corresponding to therows oi' holes. These two features-wiz., the convoluted rows and the contrasting fieldsenable players t'o move their pegs with accu racy, and to determine readily their relative progress at any time during the game. The contrasting fields may be advantageously employed in connection with other arrangements of peg-holes, as shown in Fi. 3, for counting in other games, one iield being employed by one side of players and the other by the opposite side. The pegs employed by each side should be of the same color as the field iu which the side counts.

I am aware that peg-holes in a cribbageboard have been arranged in endless curved rows extending around an oval or elliptical surface.

I am also aware that in game-counting apparatus peg-holes have been made in ditl'erently-colored straight stripes or fields. Therefore, I do not claim, broadly, the arrangement of peg-holes in continuous curved rows, nor their location in difterently-colored stripes.

I am not aware, however, that peg-holes have ever been arranged in continuous parallel convoluted rows, each contained in a field contrasting in color with the field containing the other.

It will be lseen that this arrangement enables the necessary number of holes for the game of cribbage to be arranged closely and compactly without liability ot' mistake or confusion, the contrasting iields distinguishing each row from the other, no matter how close together the rows may be.

The peg-holes a.- are preferably made in a tin or other sheet-metal box, A, of the form shown in the drawings. The contrasting iields are printed or painted on one or both sides of the box, and the holes are formed by perforating said sides. One of the sides oi' the box is flanged, and constitutes a removable cover. The interior of the box is subdivided' into compartments B B, forholding cards,- and a compartment, C, for holding counting-pegs. The ends of the box A are semicircular, and the compartment C is located in one of the semicircular ends, as shown.

D represents a lid or cover for the compartment C. This cover consists of a quadrantshaped piece, which is pivoted at to the box. The curved edge of the lid D corresponds with the curvature of the end of the box; but the pivot of the lid is located a little at one side of the center of the circle of which the end of the box is an arc, (x representing said center,) so that when the lid is swung around to cover and close the compartment C, as shown in Fig. 4, its curved edge will be caused to bind against the end of the box A, and thus hold the lid the box, as shown in Fig. 5, so that said lid will swing easily.

By the described improvements a satisfactory and convenient game apparatus is produced which can be made and sold at a low price.

I claim as my invention-'- l. A cribbage-board having peg-holes arranged in two continuous parallel convoluted series or rows, each series or row contained in .or surrounded by a field which contrasts in color with the ield containing the other series or row, the rows being clearly defined and distinguished from each other by the elds, as set forth.

2. 'Ihe sheet-metal box having a semicircular end or ends, a perforated top or cover, and the compartment G, combined with the quadrant-shaped cover I), eccentrically pivoted to the box, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOSEA B. DENNISON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. PIERCE, C. F. BROWN. 

